I'm considering bringing a gift/participation opportunity/music project I'm calling "Band on the Run." I have a battery operated small amp, plus guitar, electronic drum kit (Yamaha YDD60), cheap old casio keyboard, battery operated mixer, some mics. I'm thinking of loading this all up in a wagon and hauling it around looking for impromptu groups (or individuals) to play some music.

Is this crazy? If you're a musician and you wandered by and I asked you to join up with some strangers (or friends) (or solo) and play something, would you?

Or would I just end up hauling a heavy wagon around the playa getting tired and sad?

[quote="swampdog"]I'm considering bringing a gift/participation opportunity/music project I'm calling "Band on the Run." I have a battery operated small amp, plus guitar, electronic drum kit (Yamaha YDD60), cheap old casio keyboard, battery operated mixer, some mics. I'm thinking of loading this all up in a wagon and hauling it around looking for impromptu groups (or individuals) to play some music.

Is this crazy? If you're a musician and you wandered by and I asked you to join up with some strangers (or friends) (or solo) and play something, would you?

Or would I just end up hauling a heavy wagon around the playa getting tired and sad?[/quote]

This is so cool. Your post motivated me to go now. I was not sure, but now that you posted this cool idea, I am getting excited about joining. Would you consider some mp3 exchange of music, or are you planning for a completely impromptu show?
thanks for this cool idea.
like2play

My thought is completely impromptu jams. I will have an mp3 player hookup, my thought for that piece is more karaoke - if I get a singer but no strummers, or partial band that needs a little oomph or extra structure I'll have some karaoke tracks I can play to get the ball rolling. I'm really open to whatever happens though. I'll probably record most of what happens. I don't really want to be a roaming recorded music player - there's enough of that already.

[quote="swampdog"]My thought is completely impromptu jams. I will have an mp3 player hookup, my thought for that piece is more karaoke - if I get a singer but no strummers, or partial band that needs a little oomph or extra structure I'll have some karaoke tracks I can play to get the ball rolling. I'm really open to whatever happens though. I'll probably record most of what happens. I don't really want to be a roaming recorded music player - there's enough of that already.[/quote]

Cool. My idea of the mp3 exchange was primarily to try to rehearse, or get to know different styles. I am not sure you want to keep a tally of people signing up for that, but if you were, that would be great so those of us that would like to have some discussions prior to the event, it would be great.
But again, if your plan is to do an impromptu thing, that would be awesome as well! Any music style preferred? Rock? Blues? Are you going to be playing as well?

It's a pretty low level thing - don't know if any serious groups would want to 'book time'. My battery amp is a roland street - the kind of thing you would want if you were busking.

I personally have little musical talent. I can sing reasonably well, but I collect musical instruments and toys in the hope that one day I'll find the magical thing that unlocks the music within.

I see myself as more of an instigator.

Here's kind of the scenario that I imagine - "Hey, excuse me, are you a musician? What do you play? Want to play some now for the playa? How about you? We've got a guitarist, can you sing a little or play keyboards? What do you guys want to play, a little 12 bar blues to warm up? hey, any drummers in the house?"

as far as style? Whatever the playa provides.

My biggest worries are, 1) people won't want to play 2) it's harder than I as a non-musician imagine for a random group of people to make anything fun completely impromptu.

I got the idea. I share your concern, and that is why I got so excited to see someone willing to instigate something like that. I will bring along my stuff (although I read many people saying that the desert will damage your instruments), and we'll see!

swampdog wrote:My biggest worries are, 1) people won't want to play 2) it's harder than I as a non-musician imagine for a random group of people to make anything fun completely impromptu.

Yea, maybe, some places.... but you'd be surprised...... at least, in my experience..... Spend some time in both populated areas and less populated areas..... It's the random-ness that makes this sound so very kewl to me!!!.... Have fun with it!.........

TITWI

To be on the wire is life. The rest is waiting.
It's show time, folks.....Joe Gideon

I'd definitely jump on the drums if I saw you passing by! Awesome idea. I agree that live music is a relief from the thump thump from everywhere else. One of my fondest memories from last year was happening upon a live band playing that was really good!

Tremendous idea ! If you wander out around 8:30 and Esplanade, you will encounter folks from the Burning Band. We are camped at Spanky's Wine Bar, and I suspect we'd love to surround your venue and jam with whomever else shows up. Best of luck and hope we see you ! SINdy

Alright Swampdog! I'm wating to receive by mail an endpin jack for my travel guitar. I made a pickup out of a little piezo speaker. Combining that with a small amp/speaker, and perhaps a multi effects box... I'll wander by.

I have very little musical training and can't really play an instrument well, but this thread reminds me of this one time....

It was at work, and it was someone's birthday. Myself and 3 other people just randomly, out of the blue, started singing Happy Birthday and by the end of it we totally ended up in barbershop quartet territory. It was amazing.

THAT is something I'd jump into in a heartbeat. I love this idea.

Treat people like you want to be treated. Really...it's simple and it actually works